My son is in the second form, and has informed me that everything has to be brought home at the end of each term. Is this true? I don't drive, so getting everything back will be a nightmare. Thanks in advance for your advice.

It is horribly true. I don't know about the Grecians-I hope they can leave stuff there as it will save me a lot of trouble next year. I don't know what the pupils who travel by train do . Surely they can't be taking duvets and pillows home? The main problem concernsis lettings in the holidays . Nothing can be left in the desks and wardrobes as the visitors have to put their things in them.I think you can check with the Houseparent and come to an arrangement but we have never been able to leave anything .Some people ask a friend with a car to help.

GRW (I can`t speak for GRE!) have to clear all surfaces and strip beds, but are allowed to leave things in their lockable space or under the beds at their own risk. Houses aren`t usually used for lettings over Christmas but the cleaners need to be able to get in and give them a good clean! (some need that more than others!)

It is a complete pain bringing everything home. The biggest pain for me is having to find somewhere in the house to store it.
In my son's house he has had a room change or a least a bed change every term to mix the boys up so be warned your child might be going back to the same room or bed space.

At the end of Term, my entire belongings were packed into a single suitcase, which I then carried, -- in Housey Uniform,--- from Barnes B to the CH Station, for the CH Special to Victoria,-- to be met by my Parents.
Other chaps were escorted to other Main Line Stations, for onward Journey.

Dare I suggest, that too much "Clobber" exists, and if so, what about reducing this, by the current "Weekend Leave" system, or when Family visit, during the Term ?

I am, of course, joking. But I do think that a little pre-planning might help !

... one small point from me - did you fit a duvet into your one small suitcase?

We once took our children back at the beginning of the Lent term and a very small little 2nd Former had walked from the station, arrived at school and was so loaded up that she fell over and was simply unable to get back up - she looked like a little stranded beetle and my husband and daughter had to lift her upright again and help her to her House!

Neill, have you seen the CH kit list these days?!! Duvets, pillows, towels, sports kit, civvies... and that's before you think of books, musical instruments etc (I know of one family who have to cram two childrens' kit into their car, plus a cello and a tuba!!). And of course for the beginning of term journey there are bags of tuck to add to that! I just thank heaven I've got boys, as most of the girls I know seem to need twice the amount of clothes and toiletries.

The thing that really gets me is the number of text books my two have bring home with them; I can understand this where they need the books for work over the holidays, but much of the school stuff they bring home just sits in bags getting under everyone's feet until it's loaded back into the car for the return journey.

We do plan ahead and bring any surplus clobber home before the end of term where possible, but most of the bulky stuff is in use right up to the last minute.

Jade, I do hope you'll be able to negotiate a bit of storage with your son's House!

Yes Neill, time has moved on. We had absolutely EVERTHING supplied by the school except sports shoes/boots, tennis racquets/hockey sticks and bathing suits. Easy enough to fit personal belonging (3 books, soap, shampoo and flannels, toothbrush and paste, and hairbrush) into a small suitcase.

"If a man speaks, and there isn't a woman to hear him, is he still wrong?"

Yes, we were allowed only one large and one attache case each, but almost everything was provided. Bear in mind that very few parents in my time (1956 - 62) had cars, so it all had to be carried on the train. It was a major problem financially and logistically when the merger happened and we had to provide all at once two complete sets of sports kit. I even applied to the local council to see whether any financial assistance was forthcoming. They replied along the lines of if we chose to send our children to a fee-paying school then that was our problem! Fortunately in those days we didn't also have to provide bedding. I seem to remember sewing name tapes on duvet covers, but I certainly don't remember being asked to provide a duvet - I don't think we were yet using them at home at that time.

englishangel wrote:Yes Neill, time has moved on. We had absolutely EVERTHING supplied by the school except sports shoes/boots, tennis racquets/hockey sticks and bathing suits. Easy enough to fit personal belonging (3 books, soap, shampoo and flannels, toothbrush and paste, and hairbrush) into a small suitcase.

I still have the suitcase that Mum and Dad bought me just before I started at CH. It's used only for storage these days as it weighs close to 20 kg when it's empty OK, slight exagerration, but it is heavy and doesn't have wheels, of course.

It was purchased for its robustness, and I remember Dad telling me, when he and Mum returned from the shopping trip, that the Salesperson jumped on the lid of the closed case to demonstrate just how tough it was.

englishangel wrote:
It was purchased for its robustness, and I remember Dad telling me, when he and Mum returned from the shopping trip, that the Salesperson jumped on the lid of the closed case to demonstrate just how tough it was.

xx

I still have mine too - a blue Globetrotter. We bought it in Bognor before my first term, and I remember the salesman delicately spread a duster on it before climbing on to demonstrate its robustness.

My big suitcase was a cheapie cardboard one but it still lasted until well after I got married (thoughI didn't use it), but my Dad still has my small one. My Mum used it for her sewing stuff, and then when Dad sold his house earlier in the year he kept all his selling/buying stuff in it.

"If a man speaks, and there isn't a woman to hear him, is he still wrong?"